WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Food and Drug Administration has said Bisphenol A, or BPA, is safe. However, an expert panel of the National Institutes of Health reported on Wednesday that it has concerns that the chemical used in many plastics could be toxic, particularly in children.

The federal health experts report they can't totally rule out the dangers of Bisphenol A, which is used in baby bottles, water bottles, CDs, some food containers, dental sealants and other hard plastics.

In its final report, the National Toxicology Program concludes that, based on insufficient or limited evidence, there is "some concern" about BPA's effects on the brain, behavior and prostate gland in children. It said there is "minimal concern" that BPA harms reproductive organs in girls or people who work with the chemical.

It's a far cry from calling BPA dangerous but environmentalists say any level of concern is too much.

"I think that, when it comes to our children, even some level of concern is too high, and we should try to minimize exposures among our vulnerable populations,” said Anila Jacobs, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington.

There is widespread exposure to BPA. The Centers for Disease Control has detected low levels in 93 percent of Americans who have been tested.

Most of what we know about it comes from hundreds of conflicting animal studies. NIH experts say there's no way to know if what happened in lab rats could also happen in people.

This latest report is neither an indictment nor a free pass on BPA. But the plastics industry says consumers should be reassured.

“When that information from NTP is considered by FDA -- along with additional information, for example, on human exposure – the FDA reaffirms that products containing Bisphenol A, products such as baby bottles and so on, are safe for use,” said Stephen Hentges, a spokesman for the American Chemistry Council.

NIH called for more research. The FDA, which is set to finalize its decision on BPA soon, is asking for public comment later this month. In the meantime, some large stores, like Wal-Mart, have said they'll stop selling baby bottles made with BPA.